Ward robe-bedstead



2 Sheets--Shee1n 1. M. CROSBY.

, Wardrobe Bedstead.

No. 232,805. Patented Oct. 5,1880.

2 Sheets- -Sheet 2.

M. CROSBY. Wardrobe Bedstead.

Patented Oct. 5, 1880.

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lNVENTEI R az n MARK CROSBY, OF WAKEFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

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SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 232,805, dated October5, 1880.

Application filed January 6,1880. I

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MARK CROSBY, ofWakefield, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts,haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in NVardrobe-Bedsteads, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention consists in a certain novel construction and combination ofparts, which will first be described, and then specifically pointed outand determined in the claims.

Referring to the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1is a view in perspective. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section.Fig. 3 is an elevation of the bed detached. Fig. 4. is an elevation ofthe cabinet-case, showing the panels H swung inward against the actionof the springs and the side pieces, G, turned inward against thehead-board, this being the position of the parts when prepared fortransportation. Fig. 5 is a plan of the flooring-piece. Fig.6 is asection taken longitudinally directly through the center of one of thefolding legs upon the pivoted bed.

A in the drawings represents the hinged or pivoted bed, whichcorresponds in essential respects with the general features of beds ofthis class. It may be attached by the wellknown pivoting-bar to thecabinet; but I have, in this instance, preferred to hinge the bed to thedetachable filling-strip B by means of a large, strong, spring-butt, G.The bed A is weighted near the head in the usual manner to assist inraising it when it is to be folded within the cabinet.

The body I) of the cabineteasin g has cornerposts E E, which rise fromthe flooring-piece to the top of the cabinet. To these posts the sidepieces, G G, of the cabinet frame or case are permanently hinged, asseen in Fig. 4. These side pieces are provided with dowels a a, whichengage with the flooringpiece F when the frame is set up and hold theside pieces firmly in position. When, on the other hand, the cabinet isto be packed, either for shipment or to obtain space, the posts arelifted from the flooring-piece F by tilting them backward, thusreleasing the dowels a a and allowing the side pieces, G G, to swinginward against the back of the casing, where they lie against the back,occupying but very little space.

The remainder of the sides of the cabinetcasing is composed of thehinged panels H H,

hinged to the posts E E just above the side pieces, G G, and in suchposition that when both are turned outward upon their hinges they willform a continuous side to the cabinet, as seen in Fig. 1, the pivotedbed folding between the sides and against the back. YVhen, however, thebed A is turned down into position for use, as in Fig. 2, these hingedpanels are adapted to be swung inward until they lie in the plane of theback of the cabinet-case, where they form part of the continuous headboard H H I, as seen in Figs. 2 and 4.

Upon each hinged panel is mounted a quad rant-gear, Z), engaging with apinion, a, mounted upon a shaft, (1, which is journaled in bearings c 0set upon the tops of the posts E E, the segmental gears 12 I) being soarranged that they are concentric with the hinges on which the panelsswing. It is evident that by the revolution of these pinious c thequadrant gears 12 will be turned and the hinged panels accordinglythrown backward and forward upon their hinges. The rotation of the shafta, which carries these pinions, is effected by means of a main gear, f,at the center of the shaft, which is supported at that point by suitablebearin gs. The gear fen gages with a rack, K, arranged upon the back ofthe cabinet. This rack is carried by a rod, L, sliding vertically inbearings l I, the rod being acted upon by a spring, M, which draws itdownward, when the spring is free to act, thus turning the gear f andthrowing the hinged panels H H outward into position to form the sidesof the cabinet-case.

The rod L is moved in the other direction or upward by the pivoted bedA, the head end thereof striking an arm, N, upon the rod L, throwing therack K upward and causing the gears to turn the hinged panels H H intothe position shown in Figs. 2 and 4. As long as the bed remainsunfolded, as in Fig. 2, the panels will continue to occupy this positionand form part of the continuous head-board H I H but the moment the bedis folded, the head being withdrawn from under the arm N, the spring Mdraws the rack K downward, and the panels are instantly thrown outwardready to receive the folded bed between them.

One great advantage of this arrangement is that it is accomplishedduring a very short are of motion of the pivoted bed, thus avoiding allpossible danger of a collision between the parts to which motion iscommunicated.

A in the drawings indicates the pivoted leg of the hinged or pivotedbed. This leg is attached to the bed near the upper end, as seen in Fig.1, and is secured thereto by means of a pivot-pin or by a hinge, a, asshown in Fig.6. In front of the point of attachment the leg is beveledin such manner that its end shall bear solidly against a correspondinglybeveled block, B, the two beveled surfaces being so calculated that whenunfolded the leg shall stand at right angles with theplane of the bedand have a firm base of support upon the block B. Upon either side ofthe block B are placed supportingpieces 0 c. which bear against theedges of the legs A, and, in conncction with the angular blocks B,furnish a complete support upon three sides for the leg A. Upon thefourth side I place an areshaped arm or plate, D, pivoted to the legnear its point of attachment, and passing through a slot in the siderails of the bed, (shown at cZ,) through which the arm D passes when theleg is folded or unfolded upon its hinge a.

The arm D is provided with a notch or detent, c, at or near its freeend, which is adapted to engage with the angle formed between the slot(1 and the outer face of the bed. This angle is shod with a metalguard,f, and the arm D being pivoted to the leg at the point y, when theleg is unfolded the arm D engages, by means of its detent c, with themetal shoef, and holds the leg firmly in position as extended.

The strengthening plates 0 C on each side of each leg prevent alllateral swaging, and the angular bearing-blocks B support the legsfirmly in all strains brought upon them which tend to force them beyondan angle of ninety degrees, while the brace-arms I) receive all strainsin the opposite direction, or upon the other side. Thus I obtain a legwhich is firmly and securely blocked up or braced in the most effectualmanner upon every side.

By my construction, as above described, I am enabled to pack mycabinet-bed in three piecesviz., the flooring-piece F, the detachablebed A, and the casing, which consists of the parts E H I G G. Theseparts may be assembled in and set up in a moment without the use oftools, and may be taken apart and packed with equal ease.

Idisclaim a cabinetbedstead having hinged panels ofthecharacterdescribed, with mechanism for operating said panels by themovement of the pivoted bed, said disclaimer being in favor of anearlier application for patent filed by me October 14, 1879.

It will be seen that as the vertical rod L is drawn downward by thespring M, which is compressed by the unfolding of the bed, thewholeforce of'said springis exerted to aid the movement of the pivotedbed when the latter is turned into a vertical position. On

the other hand, when the bed is unfolded the arm N engages with the headof the frame after it has passed through about two-thirds of its arc ofmotion, and as the spring M begins to act at once to resist the furthermotion of the bed the movement is completed with ease, without shock ornoise, and with only a slight exertion of strength upon the part of theoperator.

By employingthis mechanism I may, in addition to the other advantagesenumerated, dispense with the greater part, if not the whole,

of the weights with which the head of a ward- 8o robe-bed is generallyloaded.

If desired, a spring-butt, C, may be used to hinge the bed to thefilling-strip B, as already described, in order to assist inaccomplishing this result; but I do not regard this as essen- 8 5 tial.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A cabinet-case for wardrobe-beds, con- 0 sisting of a skeleton backhaving side pieces, G G, and panels H H hinged permanently thereto,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, in a wardrobe or cabinet bedstead, of a skeletoncase, a pivoted bed,

hinged panels mounted upon said case, and gearing mounted upon thehinged panels and engaging with pinions actuated by a rack to whichmotion is imparted by means of the pivoted bed-frame, substantially asand for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, in a cabinet or wardrobe bedstead, of a pivoted orhinged bedframe, a case having hinged panels, a vertical bar sliding insuitable bearings and carrying a rack at its end, and a pinion engagingwith said rack, whereby motion is imparted to two gears engaging withgears on the hinged panels, substantially as and for the purpose set noforth.

4,. The combination, with the upright having the posts E andfilling-piece I, of the hinged panels H H and the hinged side pieces,

G G, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination, with the pivoted bed A, of the hinged panels II II,having quadrant gears I) Z), the pinions f0 0, and rack-bar K,substantially as and for the purpose set I20 forth.

6. A cabinet-bedstead consisting of the body D, the flooring-piece F,the hinged panels H H, hinged side pieces, G G, gearing I) b c c f,rack-bar K, rod L, spring M, arm N, and [2 5 pivoted bed A, all as andfor the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two sub-

